The multi-market global survey conducted by the Nordic parent of Telenor India has assessed the impact of scams on 400 internet users aged 18– to-65+ in India, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia and was conducted to provide better understanding of the common methods in which people are “scammed” online.Kalyan Parbat | ET Bureau | March 10, 2016, 14:38 IST

Norway’s Telenor Group released the results of an internet scams study Thursday that depicted that the top three online scams in India are work-from-home’ fraud, lottery scams and fake bank emails scam.

According to a Telenor Group study, online security is extremely relevant in India where over a third of internet users surveyed have been victims to an internet scam and a further 57% know a friend or family member who had been scammed online.

Further, for those surveyed who indeed have been subject to an online scam in India, 90% have lost money and compared to neighbours, the sums stolen is the highest. Regionally the average financial loss per person is Rs 6,81,070 or ($9900), but alarmingly in India the average loss was higher at Rs 8,19,000 ($12,000).

The multi-market global survey conducted by the Nordic parent of Telenor India has assessed the impact of scams on 400 internet users aged 18– to-65+ in India, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia and was conducted to provide better understanding of the common methods in which people are “scammed” online.

As a leader in telecommunications, Telenor India is dedicated to enhancing internet safety,” said Sharad Mehrotra, CEO, Telenor India, “We hope that the findings from this digital consumer study will encourage all of us to take preventative measures to stay safe online.”

“As Indian netizens, we all know that scams exist but to see that the highest sums stolen via scams is in India, shows this is an area we communally need to address,” the company added.

The results of the Telenor Group study also glean the best internet scam prevention methods from experienced users, in order for Indian netizens to gain more insights and awareness on the subject. And while many net consumers are aware of e-mail frauds such as “official representatives” from a foreign government, offering millions of dollars in return for an upfront fee, new scams are born every day and it’s important to assess the landscape of today’s online deceptions.

The Telenor study revealed that 85% of India’s internet users are familiar with the term ‘Internet Scam’ and feel open to online threats, with 63% saying they are ‘very concerned’ about online scams — a third more than those who say they’re concerned with muggings.

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After PSU banks, the government is likely to infuse capital in two chronically ill telecom PSUs BSNL and MTNL, and the Union Cabinet is likely to take a decision on 4G spectrum allocation to them by the third week of the current month after DoT places the note before it for consideration.

At a high-level meeting at the PMO late Tuesday, it was also decided that the two telcos will frame a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) to reduce their employee strength, which will be followed by a reduction in the retirement age to 58.